1890 Pittsburgh (Pittsburghs, Pittsburgs, Alleghenys)

Left: This rendering is based on visual documentation for uniform style and written documentation for color. Important details may be undocumented or difficult to determine. An educated guess is made to complete the rendering.

Rendering accuracy:Year: documented    Team: documented

Right: This rendering is based on written documentation for uniform style and color. No visual documentation is known and an artist’s conceptualization is used to create the rendering.

Rendering accuracy:Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on this uniform:

Photo A

Dated April 26, 1890. This drawing of the team was published in a newspaper on this date, and was based on a photo. Year of photo can be confirmed by manager Hecker who, like many others in the photo, was only with Pittsburgh in 1890. A photo date of April 1890 can be confirmed by appearance of players Routcliffe and Brandenberg who were both released by the team before May 3. Drawing depicts players wearing a white or light-colored uniform with the city name displayed in arched lettering across the chest. The shirt was buttoned, possibly with dark buttons, and also had a pocket on the left breast. This uniform may be the home uniform described in newspaper accounts from early 1890 as being white in color and with black trimmings. One player, back row second from left, wore a shirt with lace ties and no city name. The drawing also suggests that the players wore a white cap in the photo. However, the cap color is unconfirmed as newspaper artists during this period sometimes represented elements such as caps and lettering in outline form only.

Top row, from left: P Hines (Pit NL 90, Bos NL 90), F Dunlap (Pit NL 88-90, NY PL 90), P Routcliffe (Qncy CIL 90, Pit NL 90), C Schmit (90), J Kelty (90), B Wilson (90), P Daniels (90), F Roat (90), K Baker (90) and H Brandenburg (dnp). Front: B Sowders (89, 90), D Miller (AA 84-86, NL 87-93), B Sunday (Pit NL 88-90, Phi NL 90), H Youngman (McKsprt TSL 90, Pit NL 90), (Hecker mgr 90), H Jones (90), D Hemp (Pit NL 90, Syr AA 90), S LaRocque (90), J Gray (Pit PL 90, Pit NL 90) and T Berger (90, 91). Players IDs from The Sporting Life, April 26, 1890. Research from Ken Samoil. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Routcliffe and Brandenberg release info from The Sporting Life, May 3, 1890.

Dated April 26, 1890. Detail view of photo A. Detail view shows that the city name was spelled as “Pittsburgh” with an “H” and not as “Pittsburg” which became the official spelling in 1891. The city reverted back to the original spelling of Pittsburgh in 1911. Pittsburgh etymology from wikipedia.com.

Written documentation on this uniform:
November 1889: “When the [National] League [meeting] finally adjourned for the day, its accomplished business included […] the authorization of President Young to fix a distinctive color for each club uniform.” From the Paterson (NJ) Morning Call, November 16, 1889.

January 1890: “The Pittsburgh [National] league team will have white uniforms with black trimmings at home, and for traveling will have gray with black trimmings.” From the Pittsburgh Daily Post, January 21, 1890. Research from Don Stokes. A similar report was printed in the New York Evening Post, January 21, 1890.

January 1890: “[The National League] decided unanimously by selection of white suits to be […] worn at home at all times. Visiting teams will have their own options in selecting their dress, providing […] it is easily distinguished from the home team.” From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 30, 1890. Research from Gary Kodner.

Team genealogy: Pittsburgh 1870s-
Pittsburgh began as Allegheny, an independent pro team in Pittsburgh formed in the late 1870s. Allegheny joined the American Association (AA) at its formation in 1882. The AA was a major league operating between 1882 and 1891. Allegheny played in the AA through the 1886 season and then moved to the National League (NL) as Pittsburgh in 1887. The NL began operation in 1876 and Pittsburgh has played in the league every year from 1887 to present time. Information from wikipedia.